Anthony mttckenhaupt



(No Model.) f

A. MUGKENHAUPT.

INDICATOR FOR BOOT AND SHOE RBGEPTAGLES.

No. 265,693. Patented Oct. 10, 1882.

Fig- 4 WITNESSES; O INVENTOR- N. mina mno-uuwgnpw. waaingm. n. c

To all whom t may concern UNITE STATES PATENT Ormea.

ANTHONY MTTOKENHAUPT, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEV YORK.

INDICATOR FOR BOOT AND SHOE RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,693, dated October10, 1882.

Application led March 15, 1882.

. is a specification.

This invention relates in the main to an indicator to .be afxed to thefront of a box or drawer containing boots or shoes, such as are usuallyemployed in a shoe-store, whereby the sizes ofthe shoes and the numbersof pairs of each size contained in the box or. drawer at any time may bereadily ascertained. The indicator is also made to serve as a reiieetorin order to illuminate the darker parts of the store in some degree. Asalarge number of them will usually be required and employed, theircombined reflecting power will be very considerable.

It is well known by retail dealers in boots and shoes that a certainnumber of pairs of each size of a particular kindof shoe is usuallyplaced in a box or drawer, and that in time certain pairs will be soldfrom the receptacle.

Just what sizes and the number of pairs re lnaining in the box, if any,can only be ascertained by running over, examining, and handling thecontents ot' the box. This consumes much time, annoys the dealer andcustomer, and mars the fresh appearance of the shoes. Moreover, in hishurry the dealer is apt to overlook the particular article the customerwants, and thus lose a sale.

My invention is intended to remedy this difficulty and render theexamination ofthe stock simple and easy without opening the boxes ordrawers and without handling the goods.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention in its preferredform, Figure 1 is a front View of my indicator and reector. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section ot' the same on line 2 2 in Fig. 1.Figisatransverse section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows views ot`.the several size-slides which may be employed. Fig. 5 is a detachedrear view of the indicatorplate, showing one ot' the slides whichindicate the number of pairs of boots or shoes of a particular size inthe -drawer or box. Fig. 6 is a (No model.)

modification which will be hereinafter explained.

A is a plate, which I prefer to make ot' polished metal, as brass or anymetal with a nickel or silver plated or gilded face, so that it mayserve as aV refiector. This plate has a rim, a, on its margin, which`rim rests upon the surface of a drawer or box, and thus leaves a hollowor cavity behind the plate for the rear portions of the slides to playfreely in. On the rim a are formed anges I, whereby the indicator may besecured to a wooden drawer or box, and points or clips b', whereby itmay be attached to a pnsteboard or other thin box. When the indicator isto he attached to a wooden drawer the clipsb may be bent under or outoif, and when it is to be attached to a paper box the anges b may betreated in a like manner. The clips b are passed through slits'in thebox and clinched on the inside.

Referringnow to Fig. 1, at the righthand side is seen a vertical column,F, of numerals 2,

3, 3%, te., up to 8. These represent the length (or what is commonlyknownas the size) ot' the shoes contained in a particular box or drawer.These are the sizes for womens shoes; hutthesize known as mens, boys,misses,77 or infants7 shoes may be substituted, ifdesired. Opposite eachof the numerals in this size-column7 is a horizontal row, G G, ofnumerals, 1,2, 3, Ste., up to 7. These represent the number ofpairs ofshoes or boots of each size originally placed in the box or drawer. Ihave indicated only seven pairs of each; but this number may be extendedas desired. Between each horizontal row G of numerals isa slot, e, cutthrough the plate A, and in these slots are arranged what I will callnumber-slides, d. The construction of these slides will be understood byreference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5. The face-plate ofthe slide is made bypreference of thin metalas brass orironand has formed in it a recess oraperture, through which one ofthe numerals in its particular row mayappear, the two adjacent numerals at the sides being hidden by theplate.

'The piece removed to form the openingis bent back at right angles, andpasses through a spring piece or plate, c, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5,when its projecting end is split into three parts and clinched down uponthe plate e (see Fig. 5) in opposite directions. The springplate drawsthe slide d down to and against the plate A, butpermits said slide to bemoved along in the slot across the face of the indicator.

In Fig. 6 l have shown the margins of the cross-slots flanged or turnedup and the faceplate ofthe slide d recessed by bending, so as to takeover the same. This construction serves to guide the slide in itsmovement and retains it in place better perhaps than as shown in Fig. 5.Either construction may be employed.

The face of the indicator in Fig. 1, so far as described, shows by thepositions ot' slides d that there are in the box or drawer six pairs ofsize 25, two pairs of 3, six pairs of 3%, four pairs of 4, one pair of'5, four pairs ot' 5%, six pairs of 6, one pair of 6, four pairs ot' 7,seven pairs ot`7, and three pairs ot 8. Now, whenever a pair ot' shoesis sold from the box or drawer the proper slide d will be moved along tothe left until all are sold ot' that size, when the opening in the slidewill appear over the blank strip or column at the left. The slides aremade to project very little and to require some pressure to move them,in order that they may not be accidentally displaced.

In order that the same indicator may be made to serve for boxes ordrawers containing other than womens shoesas mens shoes, for example-Iprovide the plate A with clips or keepers i t', as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 3, made by turning up parts of the plate, and arrange slides, asshown in Fig. 4, to be slipped into these keepers. The slide B exhibitsthe number for mens shoes, the slide G for misses7 shoes, the slide Dfor infants7 shoes, and the slide E for boys 7 shoes. As before stated,however, either of these series of numbers may be marked directly uponthe indicator. This is optional with the user;

It is customary to make shoes ot' one length or sizeas sevens, forexample-of different Widths, and these widths are ordinarily indicatedby either a numeral or a letter, or both. For womens shoes letters, andletters and fractions, are usually employed-as C, C, &c., in row H-andfor mens shoes numeralsas 1, 2, A85e., in row I. As one box or drawerusually contains but one width of shoe, the drawer or box may be markedindependently of the indicator with the proper letter or numeral; but Iprefer to provide my indicator with means also for showing the width ofshoe contained in the receptacle to which it is attached. This will beseen at the top of Fig. l.

Across the top of the indicator-plate are marked in a row, H, theletters A, B, C, 05,1), D5', E, and a slide, d, is arranged precisely asthose before described to indicate the particular width of shoecontained in the box. In this case C is the letter exhibited, theletters G and D being covered by the slide d. Above the letters arearranged in a row, I, the nuymerals 1,2, 3, 4, Src.

It' the shoes in the box be mens shoes, these will be considered and theletters disregarded. As represented the slide d would then indicate 4.

I prefer to stamp the letters and numerals in the plate A and the slidesB, C,'&c., and to ll the same with some black pigment,so that they willappear plain and legible on the polished plate; and I prefer to blackenor color the slides d, as indicated by the shadings in the drawings, sothat their position may be seen the more readily and the numerals theyindicate the more easily distinguished. The apertures in the slides maybe of any shape, and the face-plates may be affixed to the back plates.e, in various ways.

With boxes and drawers provided with these indicators the dealer isenabled to tell at a glance what sizes he needs and what are instock,and he may with very little trouble take an account of stock. Thesize-column F may be at either side, or theindicator be constructed sothat the slots in which the slides d play will be vertical instead ofhorizontal. This would only necessitate turning the plate down sidewiseand changing the position of the various numerals to correspond. Thenumerals in row I and letters in row H indicating the width may beplaced at any point on the plate A.

In lieu of a face-plate on the slide d having an aperture through whichthe indicated numeral appears, I may employ a pointer on the face-plateof the slide to indicate the numeral; but I prefer the constructionshown.

I am aware that indicators for show-receptacles have been proposed, saidreceptacles having a row of numerals to indicate sizes anda series ot'numerals in connection with the size-numerals, arranged in semicircles,to indicate the number of pairs of a size, and that such indicators havebeen provided with movable pointers; but I am not aware of any indicatorfor such receptacles constructed as herein described.

I claim as my inventionl. An indicator for boot and shoe receptacles,comprising a plate to be secured to such receptacle, and said platebeing provided, first, with a column, F, of numerals to indicate thesizes of the shoes; second, with a column or row, Gr, of numeralsarranged at an angle to each numeral in the column F; third, with slotscin said plate arranged between the rows G; and, fourth, slides d,mounted in and arranged to be moved along said slots c, the said slideshaving apertures through which the numerals in rows G appear, and platesto conceal the adjacent numerals, all constructed and arrangedsubstantially as set forth.

2. An indicator for boot and shoe receptacles, comprising the slottedplate A, bearing the size-numerals in column F, and the several rows Gof numerals at an angle thereto, arranged between the slots c, and theslides d, mounted in the slots and provided with apertures to show thenumerals, and spring back plates, e, all substantially as herein setforth.

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3. The combination, in an indicator for boot and shoe receptacles, ot aslotted polished metal plate, A, provided with the size-column F ofnumerals, and the several rows G of numerals arranged at an anglethereto,'and the slots c, and the colored or blackened slides d, mountedin and adapted to be moved along the slots, whereby the plate is made toserve as a reector and to produce a sharp contrast between the plate andthe slides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An indicator for hoot and shoe receptacles, comprising the slottedplate A, provided with a column, F, of numerals indicating the sizes ofthe shoes contained in the receptacles, and rows G of numerals connectedat an angle with thenumerals in the size-column to indicate the numberof pairs of each size, and a row, H or I, of letters or numerals, orboth, to indicate the width of the shoes, and slides d, mounted in theslots c in the plate and arranged to be moved along the same to indicatethe particular width ot' the shoes in the receptacle and the number ofpairs of each size, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing `witnesses.

ANTHONY MUGKENHAUPT. Witnesses JOSEPH MoesoHAUsER, RANsoM BAKER.

